: 1521,83 30 260 ANDOVER - HARVARD 183233 Page tian in and after........ 20 Men, (reviewed) ........ zine, (reviewed). 226 .. 290 - continued....... 361 Daughter .............. 295 Presbyterian Missionary | London Missionary Society.. 144 (reviewed)............ 227 ::......: 921 reviewed) ......... 229 - Society........ 262 (reviewed)............. 405 Supper, (reviewed)...... 105 versy, Spirit of,......... 305 375 143, 226, 259, 296, 335, 405 No. II. 414 | National Education ........ 173 219 lowship-Meetings, reviewed 143 an Home Mission ....... 288 tract from.............. 322 England............... 71 Theology............... 423 Ordinations........., 228 300 259 Deity of Christ, (review- ed ................... 261 pensation of .......... (reviewed)............. 260 Religion............... 213 206 Page Page Preparation for Suffering, Tokens, Distribution of .... 249 (reviewed)............. 300 Temperance Societies...... 250 Presbyterianism in England, 25 The Closing Year......... Presbyterian Missionary So The Departed Year........ 109 144 The Times Liberalism.... 81 (reviewed)............. 298 The Orthodox Presbyterian, 409 Dr. Anecdote of.. 313 The Reformers............ 88 Pollok's Tales of the Cove The Precentor ............ 121 nanters, (reviewed)...... 298 The Christian's Death.... 281 Religious Revivals........ 282 The Crucifixion........... Revivals of Religion in Ame The Sonship of Christ...... rica.................. 133 The Presbyterian, No. I.... 69, 99, 178, 228, 262, 308, 370 Rowan's Tribute to the Me- No. VI.. 283 No. VII... 367 No, VIII, 426 373 Systematic Verse-Book.... The End of the Wicked.... 388 Simplicity of the Gospel.... 248 (noticed). Spirit of Prayer........... 404 Theological Examination Com- Study of the Bible........ 204 mittee.... Scottish Missionary Society 105 Unitarians in India........ 405 235 Faith, with proofs, reviewed 228 Scriptural Education ... 272 Warwick, . Rev. Arthur, 386 Willis on National Establish- Synod of Ulster and Collegi ments, (reviewed)....... 296 ON SINGING THE PRAISES OF GOD IN PUBLIC WORSHIP. - TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN. You will much oblige me by giving insertion to the duty at all; and to be viewed rather as a graceful appendage, than as an essential element of the worship of the sanctuary. It is therefore the more necessary to direct our attention to the subject, and to vindicate the dignity and importance of a service which, by many professing Christians, is disregarded or despised. : 1. T'he duty of singing praise to God is pointed out by the light of nature. The ancient poets and philosophers of Greece and Rome, in their writings and public instructions, enforced the propriety of singing hymns in honour of their God,-and in every species of idol-worship until the present hour, singing has formed an important and indispensable feature. The true God has never, in any age or in any country, "left himself without a witness' in the beauties of His creation, and in the bounties of His providence. Hence the psalmist invites all the inhabitants of the earth to join him in his song of adoration and thanksgiving. Psal. cxvii. 1- O praise the Lord all ye nations; praise him all ye people.' And because they neglected to do that which was so evidently required of them, they were exposed to the severe rebuke of the apostle, who declared them to be without excuse, who when they knew God, glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.'-Rom i. 20. 2. This duty is revealed to us, not by the gleamings of unassisted reason only, but by the clear and unclouded light of divine revelation. In reference to the Old Testament dispensation, it is quite unnecessary to allude to the numberless passages in the psalms and elsewhere, in which singing is enjoined by so many powerful and affecting considerations. See *Psal. xcv. c. cxxxvi., &c. And that this mode of worship was not intended to be confined to the Jewish economy, but to continue in the church till the end of time, is evident, both from the prophecy of Isaiah, Isai. lii. 8, 9, 10, in which he speaks of the worship of the latter days, and from the precept of the Holy Ghost by the Apostle Paul.-See Eph. v. 19; Col. iii. 16. 3. Not only the precept, but the example contained in the word of God for our instruction and admonition, powerfully urges us to the reverential and habitual performance of this duty. How frequently David calls upon the people to “mag. nify the Lord with him,' is famliar to all. Hezekiah, who lived several ages after David, and those who celebrated the passover with him, are said to have praised the Lord with the words of David and ot Asaph the seer ; (from this passage |